ID :
95092
Wed, 12/16/2009 - 02:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/95092
The shortlink copeid
BA strike to have `no impact` on Qantas
Qantas says industrial action by British Airways (BA) cabin crew will have "no
impact" on the flying kangaroo's operations between Australia and the UK.
Hundreds of thousands of BA passengers around the world face a chaotic Christmas as
the airline's staff take strike action.
Nine out of 10 BA staff on Monday voted in favour of striking from December 22 to
January 2 amid a bitter dispute over pay and job cuts.
Despite code sharing arrangements, Qantas says it has sufficient capacity across
those 12 days to accommodate Qantas ticketed passengers booked on BA codeshare
flights between Australia and the UK on existing Qantas services.
"This will provide certainty for Qantas customers travelling to and from the UK,"
Qantas group executive government and corporate affairs David Epstein said in
statement.
He said all Qantas services between Australia and the UK will operate as scheduled
over the Christmas and New Year period.
Qantas will also provide alternative options, where possible, for other affected
customers, such as those booked on BA services into Europe and London.
"These will include allowing changes to bookings without penalty and, on some
routes, opportunities to travel on other carriers," he said.
Customers will be contacted over the coming days regarding their options and some
flexibility may be needed regarding changes to travel dates and times.
Mr Epstein said Qantas would continue to liaise with BA during the strike period and
"closely monitor what further action we can take to minimise impacts on our
customers".
The strike has put BA in a difficult place, and it has already offered to refund
tickets.
"If a customer's flight is actually cancelled because of industrial action, we will
offer them the option to refund their ticket, re-book onto a different flight or
re-route their journey on another BA flight," BA said in a statement.
The strike comes after BA announced a planned merger with Iberia Airways.
BA's main union, Unite, has always stood against the merger unless sackings are
avoided.
A merger would create the third biggest airline in the world, with BA holding 55 per
cent and Iberia the rest.
The new airline would control 419 aircraft flying into 205 destinations globally.
impact" on the flying kangaroo's operations between Australia and the UK.
Hundreds of thousands of BA passengers around the world face a chaotic Christmas as
the airline's staff take strike action.
Nine out of 10 BA staff on Monday voted in favour of striking from December 22 to
January 2 amid a bitter dispute over pay and job cuts.
Despite code sharing arrangements, Qantas says it has sufficient capacity across
those 12 days to accommodate Qantas ticketed passengers booked on BA codeshare
flights between Australia and the UK on existing Qantas services.
"This will provide certainty for Qantas customers travelling to and from the UK,"
Qantas group executive government and corporate affairs David Epstein said in
statement.
He said all Qantas services between Australia and the UK will operate as scheduled
over the Christmas and New Year period.
Qantas will also provide alternative options, where possible, for other affected
customers, such as those booked on BA services into Europe and London.
"These will include allowing changes to bookings without penalty and, on some
routes, opportunities to travel on other carriers," he said.
Customers will be contacted over the coming days regarding their options and some
flexibility may be needed regarding changes to travel dates and times.
Mr Epstein said Qantas would continue to liaise with BA during the strike period and
"closely monitor what further action we can take to minimise impacts on our
customers".
The strike has put BA in a difficult place, and it has already offered to refund
tickets.
"If a customer's flight is actually cancelled because of industrial action, we will
offer them the option to refund their ticket, re-book onto a different flight or
re-route their journey on another BA flight," BA said in a statement.
The strike comes after BA announced a planned merger with Iberia Airways.
BA's main union, Unite, has always stood against the merger unless sackings are
avoided.
A merger would create the third biggest airline in the world, with BA holding 55 per
cent and Iberia the rest.
The new airline would control 419 aircraft flying into 205 destinations globally.
